Can ER help me? What could a Benzo wise doctor do for me now?

[[ci...]]

I am not doing very well. I am on fire, neuropathic pain is at a pain level of a 10, intense body burning head to toe. It is like I am back in acute. I CT 5 1/2 months ago. My doctors do not recognize ambien WDs. I tapered down from 1200 to 300mg of neurontin over past few months, holding at 300mg now, but maybe it was helping me more than I realized. No sleep for 5 days. Anxiety, panic, off the charts.

 

What are my options? This is so little known about ambien WDs. Can I reinstate and taper after being off 5 1/2 months? Are there any pain meds that could help me for the short term?

 

I just wasn't prepared for things to take such a bad turn so quickly. What can I do?

Thanks, cindy

 

[[cu...]]

I am not doing very well. I am on fire, neuropathic pain is at a pain level of a 10, intense body burning head to toe. It is like I am back in acute. I CT 5 1/2 months ago. My doctors do not recognize ambien WDs. I tapered down from 1200 to 300mg of neurontin over past few months, holding at 300mg now, but maybe it was helping me more than I realized. No sleep for 5 days. Anxiety, panic, off the charts.

 

What are my options? This is so little known about ambien WDs. Can I reinstate and taper after being off 5 1/2 months? Are there any pain meds that could help me for the short term?

 

I just wasn't prepared for things to take such a bad turn so quickly. What can I do?

Thanks, cindy

 

 

Hi cindys....I am so sorry that your symptoms have not improved. I am not familiar with Neurontin withdrawals but could it be causing the intense burning sensations?? I did read an article with stated that Neurontin withdrawal is similar to benzo withdrawal. Pain medications can help short term, but they also have side effects and addictive qualities. I know how absolutely frustrating it is that doctors do not (or will not) fail to understand this process.  My gut tells me the Neurontin is playing a significant role in all of this. However, regardless, as we all know, time is the only healer. It's an extremely frustrating concept because most of us are programmed to solve our problems. Hang in threre cindys...this too shall pass.

[[ea...]]

Strange - I thought I answered your post, but I don't see my answer. Oh well.....

It impossible to know this, but I, too, suspect the Neurontin. That drug is supposed to HELP this kind of pain. But you were wise to taper down.

Ambien withdrawal is basically just like benzo withdrawal. It is sort of a "mirror" of a benzo, works on the same parts of the brain, etc.

Most people get off Neurontin just fine, but I have heard that some people have withdrawal symptoms. And Im sure its like benzos - ride it out and you will heal. Reinstating the Ambien might make NO difference in your symptoms, and then where would you be? Still in pain and back on a benzo-like drug to boot.

Im sorry youre in such pain. Keep trying to distract yourself from it, and hopefully it will resolve soon.

east

 

[Guest [Mi...]]

I am not doing very well. I am on fire, neuropathic pain is at a pain level of a 10, intense body burning head to toe. It is like I am back in acute. I CT 5 1/2 months ago. My doctors do not recognize ambien WDs. I tapered down from 1200 to 300mg of neurontin over past few months, holding at 300mg now, but maybe it was helping me more than I realized. No sleep for 5 days. Anxiety, panic, off the charts.

 

What are my options? This is so little known about ambien WDs. Can I reinstate and taper after being off 5 1/2 months? Are there any pain meds that could help me for the short term?

 

I just wasn't prepared for things to take such a bad turn so quickly. What can I do?

Thanks, cindy

 

Can you increase your Neurontin a bit to help with the pain? I would highly recommend that over reinstating the Ambien.

 

I really think you're coming off the Neurontin too fast since you're in this much pain. From your signature, it looks like you had an increase in pain about the time you made larger cuts in the Neurontin. Perhaps up the Neurontin, stabilize, and maybe do 5 - 10% reductions, as if Neurontin were a benzo.  Since neurontin also acts on GABA, and you're very sensitive to this, I hope this will help you.

 

[[ci...]]

mindseeker, eastcoast, cuddlemuffin, Thank you all so much for responding. I agree the neurontin could be playing a role with the increase in neuropathic pain, and I probably was tapering too fast, I was cutting 50mg every 10-14 days, but I decided to hold at 300mg and see if things calm down.

 

I think more clerly when I have my rational mind, but when the panic sets in, I become irrational. I just can't believe how we can suffer with this kind of physical and mental pain, and there is no pill, no doctor, that can help us. I do realize reinstating ambien is NOT the answer. I throw out all that poison. When that panic hits, I feel like I am going crazy, even thinking maybe I need a psych hospital , but then I know that will make me worse, with more drugs.

 

Thank you all for your help, I am so grateful you were here for me in my time of need, cindy

[Guest [Mi...]]

mindseeker, eastcoast, cuddlemuffin, Thank you all so much for responding. I agree the neurontin could be playing a role with the increase in neuropathic pain, and I probably was tapering too fast, I was cutting 50mg every 10-14 days, but I decided to hold at 300mg and see if things calm down.

 

I think more clerly when I have my rational mind, but when the panic sets in, I become irrational. I just can't believe how we can suffer with this kind of physical and mental pain, and there is no pill, no doctor, that can help us. I do realize reinstating ambien is NOT the answer. I throw out all that poison. When that panic hits, I feel like I am going crazy, even thinking maybe I need a psych hospital , but then I know that will make me worse, with more drugs.

 

Thank you all for your help, I am so grateful you were here for me in my time of need, cindy

 

Holding on the Neuronton until your stabilize sounds like a good plan. Hope you feel better.